In a message dated 2/5/2004 2:19:33 PM Central Standard Time, michaeldaly_at_rogers.com writes: > Don't bother - we need good design, not a step backwards. What we > need to do is convince more auto makers to add built-in rack mounts. > Some Swedish cars have these as do several VW models. > As much as I would like to see quality rack design available for all cars it may not happen. I drive a nicel little Subaru because that maker makes a car (yuck...sorry truck) with a good rack system. There is another possibility. And that is to utilize the gutterless brackets found on police/fire/ems vehicles for affixing lightbars to rooftops. These brackets are not made for the endlessly changing variety of autos out there but they do exist for cars not served by Yakima or Thule. In my case I had a company supplied Crown Victoria and no personal vehicle. I purchased standard towers, bars, saddles, etc from Yakima and 2 sets of gutterless roof brackets and high tensile strength stainless steel bolts. As the car could not keep my personal gear on it was a small matter of a 5 minute installation every weekend or when I paddled. Any Law Enforcement supply store will sell you lightbar gutterless mounts for 25 or 30 bucks a pair. Manufacturers such as Code 3, Whelen or Federal Signal offer the greatest diversity in autos served. Europeans can look for Vama (Spanish) mounts. A good on line source is Galls (www.galls.com). I used this system for 2 and a half years and drove my kayaks all over the Northwest with no problems. However, you assume all the risk for doing so. The companies manufacture these brackets for lightbars on automobiles and light trucks, not 60 pound seakayaks. Nevertheless, lightbar designs do contribute as little as 1% drag and up to 20% drag on speeding cop cars so they are made very strong. If you would like further details feel free to email me back. Rob G *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Feb 06 2004 - 06:21:23 PST
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